Think Tank Belt system
/forum/topic/667452/0

end

pcho
Registered: Dec 25, 2002
Total Posts: 1619
Country: Australia

I am wondering if anyone knows what is the best belt system/combination to use. When I shoot at the 2 large events (one goes for 3 days and another 4 days) I use the lowepro belt system/lens cases combination. As I normally carry two 1 series cameras, plus about 3 of lenses (which includes the 300mm F2.8), I find it really cumbersome and as I often have to juggle and prevent the 2 camera's from having a head on collision. Plus my belt keeps sagging (from the weight of my lenses in the lens cases) down onto my waist(think Tank has a racing harness that will prevent this from happening)

Well I have just read and seen some brilliant products from Think Tank. The pro speed belt/lens changer series/Digital Holster combination looks excellent. As these units are not available in Australia I wondered if anyone can provide me with some insight if these units are as good and practical as it is described on their web site.

I am keen on the Digital Holster but I wondered if these units are practical in real life situations

Perry



Rocketball
Registered: Dec 05, 2006
Total Posts: 1720
Country: United States

Here's my Think Tank belt system:

1. Steriod Speed Belt with the Pixel Racing Harness
2. Speed Changer bag
3. Lightining Fast for my 580EX
4. Lens Changer 35
5. Lens Changer 75

The Pixel Harness made a huge difference for me.

For your gear list you might want to add a Chimp Cage and a Lens Changer 300.



pcho
Registered: Dec 25, 2002
Total Posts: 1619
Country: Australia

Rocketball wrote:
Here's my Think Tank belt system:

1. Steriod Speed Belt with the Pixel Racing Harness
2. Speed Changer bag
3. Lightining Fast for my 580EX
4. Lens Changer 35
5. Lens Changer 75

The Pixel Harness made a huge difference for me.

For your gear list you might want to add a Chimp Cage and a Lens Changer 300.



Thanks Rocketball for you input,

They are sort of the modules I was looking at but I am also interested in the digital Digital Holster. Does anyone here have any experience with them

Perry



Savas K
Registered: Feb 01, 2006
Total Posts: 2074
Country: United States

Digital holster is a good bag. Does the job in style and as slim as possible without making it a problem to access.

Pixel racing harness is a great accessory to the belts. Saved my butt having one on all day at the races.



JohnJ80
Registered: May 11, 2005
Total Posts: 3906
Country: United States

I have the TT and Kinesis belt systems. I like the TT system better because the cases are not so bulky - most camera belt systems are way, way over padded.

The big benefit to TT is that the stuff can slide around the belt. This is huge for comfort and for being able to carry it well. The TT belts are great.

Get the pixel racing harness as recommended for heavy loads.

J.



netexpress
Registered: Oct 20, 2004
Total Posts: 954
Country: United States

JohnJ80 wrote:
I have the TT and Kinesis belt systems. I like the TT system better because the cases are not so bulky - most camera belt systems are way, way over padded.

The big benefit to TT is that the stuff can slide around the belt. This is huge for comfort and for being able to carry it well. The TT belts are great.

Get the pixel racing harness as recommended for heavy loads.

J.


You say you hate belt systems. So what do you prefer?



Andy Wilson
Registered: May 13, 2005
Total Posts: 319
Country: Taiwan

I have the pro speed belt and pixel racing harness and use a mixture of holster (DH40 & DH50), skin and modulus components. They are all excellent quality and I feel will do the job very well. As has been mentioned the holsters fit very snugly to the hips or GM. I think you won't be able to get the 300 into one of those, though.

One additional feature is that you can use optional straps that attatch to the pixel racing harness and allow you to attatch one of your cameras over your chest for quick access. You can either do this by using TT's camera straps (which have rings for this) or as I do (at present) with triangular clips on the cameras strap attachment points (I'm not a great fan of neck straps). It leaves your hands free for lens changing and puts the camera. I havn't got my second camera body yet (waiting to see what the 5D replacement will be like) but I envisage having one camera in a holster and the other on these straps.

TT say it is possible to attach one camera (with their neck straps) to each of these straps (i.e one on the left and one on the right) but I suspect this would only work out if you are not moving around much (otherwise you will have the same problem of the cameras crashing into one another.

Anyway I really like the system so far (used to use the Lowepro S&F but never felt I could trust the buckles plus it is a bit bulky BTW you can use some of the Lowepro cases on the TT belt if you don't mind not being able to lock them in place)



pcho
Registered: Dec 25, 2002
Total Posts: 1619
Country: Australia

Thanks guys for all your input. I am convinced. I will put my order in.

Perry



Kiron Kid
Registered: Nov 20, 2004
Total Posts: 608
Country: N/A


I just shot two long weddings, using my new Think Tank system. It worked out very well. I was quite pleased at how it performed.

1 Pro Speed Belt
2. Speed Changer
3. Lens Changer 35
4. Lightning Fast

Kiron Kid



pcho
Registered: Dec 25, 2002
Total Posts: 1619
Country: Australia

Can't wait for my Think Tank belt and modular system to arrive. It was released from Australian custom this afternoon. Most probably I will get them on Monday morning

Perry



Andy Wilson
Registered: May 13, 2005
Total Posts: 319
Country: Taiwan

I suspect you will enjoy it. The main problem with TT stuff is that it can become like L lens fever. Once you get the first one you are drawn to get more.

But like most L's the build quality is excellent and they should last a good while.

Let us know how it works out.



Kiron Kid
Registered: Nov 20, 2004
Total Posts: 608
Country: N/A

Andy Wilson wrote:
I suspect you will enjoy it. The main problem with TT stuff is that it can become like L lens fever. Once you get the first one you are drawn to get more.

But like most L's the build quality is excellent and they should last a good while.

Let us know how it works out.



There's some truth to that TT theory. Good thing I'm a NIKON snapper.

Kiron Kid



pcho
Registered: Dec 25, 2002
Total Posts: 1619
Country: Australia

Andy Wilson wrote:
I suspect you will enjoy it. The main problem with TT stuff is that it can become like L lens fever. Once you get the first one you are drawn to get more.

But like most L's the build quality is excellent and they should last a good while.

Let us know how it works out.



You are right, I already have think Tank fever lol

This is what I actually ordered

Item# Description Qty Shipped
----- ----------- -----------
TT320 Modular Set 1
TT006 Pro Speedbelt MEDIUM 1
TT022 Steroid Speedbelt - Medium 1
TT015 Pixel Racing Harness 1
TT180 Lens Changer 80 1
TT182 Lens Changer™ 300 1
TT206 The Chimp Cage 1
TT204 R U Thirsty? 1
TT505 Big Stick 1

Perry



Kiron Kid
Registered: Nov 20, 2004
Total Posts: 608
Country: N/A


I tried the "medium" Pro Speed Belt. Too snug. I purchased the "large" size, and it's perfect. So long as I don't lose an ounce of weight...

Kiron Kid



mkweaver
Registered: Aug 17, 2005
Total Posts: 1073
Country: United States

"...So long as I don't lose an ounce of weight..." per Kiron Kid
Good excuse to go get another bowl of ice cream!



pcho
Registered: Dec 25, 2002
Total Posts: 1619
Country: Australia

Kiron Kid wrote:

I tried the "medium" Pro Speed Belt. Too snug. I purchased the "large" size, and it's perfect. So long as I don't lose an ounce of weight...

Kiron Kid


You must be a lot bigger than me . My waist is 35" so I guess medium is I deal. I am used to using the the lowepro belt system, so I ordered both pro and steriod belt just incase

Perry



Savas K
Registered: Feb 01, 2006
Total Posts: 2074
Country: United States

When TT was on sale for short duration at Henry's, I made sure to score belts in two sizes. One for Summer and one for wearing over a thick overcoat or similar thick outdoor apparel.



Kiron Kid
Registered: Nov 20, 2004
Total Posts: 608
Country: N/A

mkweaver wrote:
"...So long as I don't lose an ounce of weight..." per Kiron Kid
Good excuse to go get another bowl of ice cream!


You kidding, I could live on Haggen Dasz Strawberry. Funny thing is, I'm not a large person. I was surprised at needing the larger size...

Kiron Kid

"A photograph that mirrors reality, cannot compare to one that reflects the spirit"



Kiron Kid
Registered: Nov 20, 2004
Total Posts: 608
Country: N/A


I've always wondered about the "skin" belt. Much different than the Speed belt?

KK



Kiron Kid
Registered: Nov 20, 2004
Total Posts: 608
Country: N/A

pcho wrote:
Kiron Kid wrote:

I tried the "medium" Pro Speed Belt. Too snug. I purchased the "large" size, and it's perfect. So long as I don't lose an ounce of weight...

Kiron Kid


You must be a lot bigger than me . My waist is 35" so I guess medium is I deal. I am used to using the the lowepro belt system, so I ordered both pro and steriod belt just incase

Perry


Perry

How'd you like the Lowepro belt?

KK



JohnJ80
Registered: May 11, 2005
Total Posts: 3906
Country: United States

netexpress wrote:
JohnJ80 wrote:
I have the TT and Kinesis belt systems. I like the TT system better because the cases are not so bulky - most camera belt systems are way, way over padded.

The big benefit to TT is that the stuff can slide around the belt. This is huge for comfort and for being able to carry it well. The TT belts are great.

Get the pixel racing harness as recommended for heavy loads.

J.


You say you hate belt systems. So what do you prefer?


I said I HAVE the two belt systems, not HATE them.

I much prefer the TT system, and for the record, I'm a big fan of belt systems.

J.



pcho
Registered: Dec 25, 2002
Total Posts: 1619
Country: Australia

Kiron Kid wrote:

How'd you like the Lowepro belt?

KK


I don't mind the lowepro system but unfortunately the size is not perfect fit, I am just on the in between fit. Fits perfectly when I first put it on and then it sags down to my hips. The smaller size is too small and I can't get anyone to show me the harness for the lowepro. Any the TT seems to be less bulky as the lowepro lens cases

Perry



Andy Wilson
Registered: May 13, 2005
Total Posts: 319
Country: Taiwan

pcho wrote:


You are right, I already have think Tank fever lol

This is what I actually ordered

Item# Description Qty Shipped
----- ----------- -----------
TT320 Modular Set 1
TT006 Pro Speedbelt MEDIUM 1
TT022 Steroid Speedbelt - Medium 1
TT015 Pixel Racing Harness 1
TT180 Lens Changer 80 1
TT182 Lens Changer™ 300 1
TT206 The Chimp Cage 1
TT204 R U Thirsty? 1
TT505 Big Stick 1

Perry


That's going to give you a lot of options - you won't be able to fit them all at once even if you use both belts



jonching
Registered: Jun 21, 2004
Total Posts: 141
Country: Canada

Anyone know if the ThinkTank Lens Changers fit on a Lowepro belt? I like the fact that Think Tank cases allow for the hood to stay on when it's in the case.

Jon



end